Side-door operating and holding mechanism



Dec. 22, 1925.

- 'J. F. `O`CONNOR SIDE DOOR OPERATIM- AND HOLDING MECHANISM Filed Dec.s.

Patented Dec. 22, 1925.

i tsaasa UNITED STATESA PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. OCONNOR, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS,TO

W; II. MINEILINC., A CORPORATION OF BELAWARE. 1

SIDE-DOOR..OJE'ERA'IIN(ify AND HOLDING vIVCIEICHANISIMI.

Application l'ed December To all lwho/m. t may conce/m.' l

Be it known that I, .JOHN F. OCoNNoR, a citizen of the United States,residingfat Chicago, in the county of kCook and State of Illinois, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Side-Door Operating andHolding Mechanism, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates to improvements in door operating and lockingdevices.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple and relativelyinexpensive device which may be applied to a door of the sliding type,and which will have effective means for either` drawing the door tightlyclosed or starting the opening operation thereof, together with meansfor locking thedevice in a predetermined position to hold the dooreither `in fully closed or partly opened position.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will more clearly appearfrom the description and lclaims hereinafter following.

In the drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a sideelevational view ycfa portion of a box car, showing a portion of theside door thereof with my improvements in connection therewith. Figure 2is a horizontal, sectional view, corresponding substantially to the line2-2 of Figure 1. And Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional view,corresponding substantially to theline 3-f3 of Figure 1.

In said drawing, designates a sliding door of a railway box car whichmay be either of the top or bottom hung type. One of the door posts isindicated at 11 in Figure 2, the post being provided with a door stop 12against which the forward edge of the door is adapted to bear when thedoor is v fullyy closed. A portion of the side wall of the car isindicated at 13.

The improved door operating and locking device, as shown, comprisesbroadly, ,a stop bracket A; apivot plate B; a two-part head C; anoperating lever D; a pull arm E; and a locking bracket F. l The pivotplate B, which is of circular outline, is provided on the outer sidethereof with a central cylindrical boss 14 servingas pivot member forthe two-'part head C. A p

t lpfextending axially through thegboss S, 1923. Serial No. 679,310. v

f 14 and the door serves to fix the plate to the door, a disc washer 16being interposed between the head of the bolt and the outer end of theboss, for a purpose hereinafter described. Y

rlhe two-part head C comprises a pair of counter part discs 17--17.4Each disc 17 is in the form of a circular latfplate having a radialenlargement at one side as indicated at 18.v The discs 17 are eachprovided with a central, pivot-receiving opening 19, the opening beingsurrounded at the inner side of the plate by an annular flange 20forming ahub section. Each disc is also provided with a radiallydisposed, relatively wide rib N" 21 extending from the flange 20 ,to thepe,-` riphery ofthe disc, the rib corresponding in height to the flange20. As clearly shown in Figures 1 and 3, the rib and the enlargement 18vare disposed on opposite sides of the hub, but are not at diametricallyopposite points, the rib being offset to one side thereof. Each rib isalso provided with a transversely extending, semi-cylindrical recess,forming a half bearing 22. The two discs forming the head C are mountedon the pivot 14 with the respective lugs 18 and ribs 19 thereof inregistrationl and the hub seotions 20 and the ribs 21 in abutment. Whenthe partsare thus assembled, the half bearings are also registered anddefine a complete cylindrical bearing opening. v y

Thewasher 16, which is ofl larger diameter than the pivot member 14,serves to retain the two-part head on the pivot. To assure free rotationof the head,4 a slight clearance is provided `between the washerv 16 andthe outer face ofthe two-part head C,'the outer end ofthe pivot memberbeinfr extended beyond the outer face of the hea as clearly shown inFigure 3. The hub sections 20 serve to space the plates 17'of the headC, provided an opening therebetween adapted to accommodate one endof thepull arm E.

The pull gated. flat plate having one end, pivoted between the plates17, at the enlarged portions 18, by means of a pin 23 formed integralwithl the innnermost plate and extending through the enlarged portion 18of the other plate. The outer end of the pin is preferably yupset toprevent separation of the lates. At the outer or free end, the arm E isbent upwardly, as seeninl Figure 1, to

arm Eis in the form ofv an elonprovide a tapered! hook member 24;; Thepartsv are so' proportioned that when the Varm E is'horizontallydisposed, as shown lil in Figure l, the lower edge of the same willbear'on the hub of the head C and a'stop .pin 25 disposed adjacent theperiphery of the head. kThe pin 25/is preferably formed integral withthe innermost plate 17 and extends through the other-plate, the outerend of the pin being` also upset to prevent separation of the headsections.`

The operatingflever D is in the form of an elongated barhaving a forkedhead'26'at one 'end thereof. Extending between the arms, adjacent theouter end of theforked head, is a transverse pivot pin 27, the samebeing preferably formed integral with the arms. The pivot pin! 27, whichis journaled inA the" semi-cylindrical bearingseats 22,

' serves to 'support the lever for' limited swinging movement on thehead C at right angles to the plane of the door. The head 26 has thefront and rear faces' thereof tapered in opposite directions from thepivot" pin 27,- asclearly shown in Figure 3, to permit the lever to beswung awayl from the door to a vposition wher'e'it will be dis` engagedfrom the locking bracketF where itmay be conveniently operated andproper" clearance provided for the operators hand. At Vthe free end, thelever is preferably rounded off to tion 28.

lnassembling-the lever D, pull arnrE and head C, the'lever and pullarmare ifrs't applied to the inner section 17 which has the pins and 2liintegral therewith,

by placing the pin 27 ofthe lever in thehalf bearing section 22 and`mounting the arm Eon'the pin 23. yThe outer plate 17 is then appliedYand the endsy of thepins 23 and 25 upset. After the parts have thusheen assembled, the pivot member 14k ofthe plate Tris passed through theopening 1li vof the head C and the washer 16 andthe bolt'l applied. Theplate B is then fixed to the doorlO by theabol-t 15. To preventaccidental turning of theplate D with the head C when the latter isoscillated, a pair of dowel pins 29 are preferably provided on the` rearface of the plate B seated in suitable openings formed .in the door, the

sequence of operations takes4 place.

providea hand grip porrlhe bracketl?,l which is in the form of' a lockor car seal is adapted tov be engaged within the perforation ofthelug'31 to lock the leverA to the bracket lF in a well known manner. Y Yn The stop bracket A is in the form of a flat plate lixedto the outerside of the door stop 12 by a plurality-of bolts 33, or Vother suitablesecuring means. A pair of outstanding, spaced,n downwardly j openingsockets 345-34 are provided at opposite ends of the lower side of theplate, the sockets being-'inwardly tapered and either of the sameheingadapted tovreceive the hookend ofthe arm E; The side wallsof the sockets3a have alined slots therein as indicatedat 35 andthe end ofthe hook 24is provided with an opening fadapted to be brought into a'linement withthe slots to receive the iisualcar'seal.-v l f Assuming that thepantsarei in the posi# tion shown in full lines inthe drawing, when itigdesiredl to open the door, the followiplg T' e lead" seal and the lockassociated respectively with 'the bracket ,Ai and the lng 31 are first'removed, after which the lever D is` swung outwardly to disengage itfrom the lug- 31. Thereuponthe lever is swung ina counter-clockwisedirection, as seen 1n Figi ure l, to the dotted line position, rotatingthe head C therewith and through the medium of the pull arm E having-thehook thereof engaged in the outermost socket 34,' forcing' the door opento thev dotted' line position. When the doorhas be'enthns partly-opened,the hook portion of thefarm'E maybe -disenf gaged from the socket.andthe door fully opened by'l merely pushing the same in the usualmanner. Upon-the operator releasing his grip from the leverA D, vthelatter will swing vdo-wnwardly under the infiuence of gravity to thelfull line position shown Vin Figure 1.-- n

When the'door is in openedv pull -arm` E will ordinarily be swung'vclockwise about its pivot 23 so as tohang in? a position, vthe.

lli?

depending position at the right hand of the operating-lever D, asviewedv in Figure .1, to

thereby eliminate danger of the pull arm vbeing broken ordistorted'shonld it befleft projecting:beyond the freeedge-'of the door.i lf Lfor any' reason, `it is foundthat the door cannotbereadily' pushedopenfwfh'enjit hasv been forced to the dotted line positionl shown, thehooked endof the armfE may be engaged within the innermostsocket and Ythe described operation of forcing'the d-l'oor to the right repeated;tl'iereby obtaining-aalv greater door opening. In 'other words, the

hooked end of the bar may beY successiifely f engaged within the twosockets to force the Y door open.

then it isdesiredr to 'close thedoor, the

lattervismoved as near the stop-12gas can be conveniently'.- done bythe'` operatief Without thel use of tools. The -handle D is then broughtto the dotted line position shown in Figure l and the hook end, of thebar E engaged with one of the sockets 34, the same being shown asengaged with the outermost socket, as seen inFigure l. Assuming that thehooked end of the arm is engaged within the outermost socket, uponswinging theY handle downwardly to the full line position shown inFigure l, the door will be positively pulled to the fullyclosedpositicn. When this condition has been reached, the stop pin 25will have been brought into abuttingrelation with the lower edge ot thearm E, thereby positively holding the hooked end of the bar in thesocket. To lock the parts, the lever D is engaged, o-ver the lug 3l andthe padlock or other locking device applied. The car seal may then bepassed through the alined openings in the .sockets and hooked portion ofthe arm E. It will be evident that, as movement of the lever isprevented by thelugl and the pin 25 positively prevents rdisengagementof the hooked end of the arm E, the door cannot be opened byunauthorized persons without leaving visual vevidence thereof. Y It',for any reason, it is found that the door cannot bereadilymanuallypushed enoughfto the lett as seen in Figure l, to engagethehook of the arm E with the outer socket,g-the same may be firstengaged with the innermost socket and the door pulled to partly closedposition by swinging the handle downwardly. In other words, the hookedend of the lever may be successively engaged with the two sockets tobring the door to fully closed position.

My improved door operating and. locking mechanism is also adapted tohold the doorl locked in partly opened position itor ventilatingpurposes. To thus lock the door, the same is brought to the dotted lineposition in- Figure l and the hook of the` arm E engaged within theinnermost socket 34. lever D is then engaged over the lug 31 and theparts locked and sealed as hereinbefore described.

Although I have herein illustrated the i bracket A as secured to thedoor post, and

the lever mechanism together with the remaining associated parts assecured to the door, it will ,be evident. that the positions of theparts may be interchanged without departing from the spirit oi' theinvention.

' I have herein shown and described what I now consider the preferredmanner of carrying out my invention but the same is merely illustrativeand I contemplate all changes and modifications that come within thescope ot the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. In an operating and locking mechanism for a sliding door, thecombination with pivoted operating means for opening and closing saiddoor including a lever; means The v, for llocking the lever in alpredetermined position; 'an abutment on the-.carstructure;

an. engaging member swingably connected to said operating means; and anabutment i element on said operating means for positively holdingsaid'memberengaged with said-abutment when the lever is in lockedposition. y

InA an operating and locking mechanism for a sliding door memberassociated with a frame member, the combinationwith means for openingand closing said door including ahead rotatably journaled on one ot saidmembers; an operating lever for said head ;l a pull element pivotallyconnected tothe head;,a ystop bracket iixed to the other member; meansfor locking said lever in a predetermined position; inter-engagingabutment means onl said stop bracket and element; and coacting means onsaid head and element for, holding said abutment means inter-engagedwhen the lever is held `in locked position.

3. In an operating and locking mechai nism for a sliding door memberassociated with a frame member, the combination with means for openingandMclOSing said door including a socket fixed on one of said members;of a swingingly supported pull element mounted on the `other member andadapted toco-operate with said socket; ak

lever lmechanism oroperating said element; meansv adapted to be broughtinto engagement with the pull member by the operation of said lever topositively hold the former in co-operative relation to said socket; andmeans for locking the lever in tired position.

4f.. In an operating and locking mechanism for a sliding door memberassociated with a frame member, the combination with means for movingsaid' door in opposite directions, including spaced abutment means onone of said members; of a pull element swingingly mounted on the othermember, said element having a projection thereon adapted to interengagewith said abutment.

means; a lever for operating said element; a device also voperated bysaid lever for preventing disengagement of said pull element from saidabutment means; and means for locking said lever in a predeterminedposition to hold the door tightly'closed.

5. In `an operating and locking mechanism for a slidingv door memberassociated with a frame member, the combination with a lever mechanismpivotally mounted on one of said members; a pull element eccentricallypivoted on said lever mechanism; and spaced abutment` means on the othermember adapted to be successively engaged by said pullelement for eitherforcing the door open or pulling the same to closed position uponoperation of saidV lever.

6. In an operating and locking mechaioY nismfor asliding door memberass'oeiated with a ff-'rame member; the-l -eornbnation with ale-ermeehan-ism pivotallymounted on one o'sa-id members; a-pulI-e-lementswinging-1y supportedbysaid-"lever"mechanism,v saidpu-H lelement hav-ing'an-*upwardly benty hooked" end a pair ofI spaced -'doW-nWard1-'-opening sockets on said other member aciapt'e'd Lte have the otherend-,e-the-lever suecess-i'f-ve-y enga-ged therewithdri-ring the dooropeningand f closing operations-.f

'7.' In an operating and? eekingfmeehanism teral sli-ding doormemberyassociated with a tramev member, the Combination-With a leve-r mechanismplvoted vlononeio-'said eeeentrrcally"v membersa pull' element l mountedonv said lever'meehams-m,4 saldpull element having a hooked-end;as'oe'ket on" th'e-mh'er-y member with whehthe-hooked' end foi 'theieveris adapted yto be-,engag'edg an vabutment onsaid levermee-hanisrnadaptedv-to 'engagesaid-elementy to ifnaintainl-thel lwvitlnnsaid' hooked end thereof engage soeket-fwhe-n' thelevermechanism-is moved te apr-@determined posit-'10115; and means-:terlocking the leve-rrv in said position to' the member on which it ismounted.'

8. Irl-"an operatingand' lockingmechanism for a sliding door memberassociatedv with a--rame member, the combination with aieverrnech-anism' pivoted ony One of `saily members; a pullelementeeeentrieallyf menntedr on saideverimeChaniSm, saidf'pullAdifferent-f distan-ees from ther frontedge' of the door; member, witheach of which the"- hook'ed 'end-"ofl` said element is? adapted 'to beengaged=;A an abutment on' saidA lever mechanism adapted -to er1-gages'aidl element)- to maintain the hooked-fend thereof engaged-'f Withineither of said-'sockets when' the lever' isrrioved to "al"predeterminedposition; and'. means for locking-'the leverinf sa-idpostion to'ii-016.9 dreV door-v eitl-e-r partly opened" orf tig'litly closed.v A

9. 1n zur operating and leek-mg meehal msm fory alshdin-gdem?merr-fber-4 assolo-lated a 'sect-ienaheaet rotatably monfnted on one50 an" operating! lever having pivot member ect1 to ceaet with saidelem-ent;

In' Witnessfthatjlrelam the foregoing-I have" hereuntosubscribedn'amehth-is 4th dayiofDeee-rnber; 1923." f e JOHNLF. OCNNOR;

